ADAMS TWP — Mars Area Superintendent Mark Gross recommended that the district remove most COVID-19 protocols, including contact tracing, livestreaming and social distancing, for the upcoming 2022-23 school year at a meeting Tuesday night.

Gross said his proposals for changes were in response to the Aug. 11 change in recommendations from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which removed guidelines for quarantining for individuals who were exposed to COVID and remained asymptomatic.

The district must update its health and safety plan, last updated in April 2022, every six months. Gross’ recommendations will be presented to the district’s safety committee, which is made up of a cross section of community members, teachers, internal staff, board members and administrators.

The committee will discuss the recommendations from Gross and develop proposed changes to the plan next week. The changes will be brought to the school board for a vote at a special board meeting later this month, Gross said.

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